"Rösler to Basel"

The Akim chiefs are bonded to keep the peace on pain of £1000 fine. Complaining about the character of the English response to the Akim problem he reports that the Akim chiefs had been called to Begoro on a certain date - none came, and later a messenger came saying they wished to meet in Kibi, not Begoro. The English officer involved agreed, and set out for Kibi on a Sunday although there was no hurry. His interpreter uses his position to send the Christians away unheard whenever they make charges, while charges made by the heathen against the Christians are reported in great detail to the coast. On his return to Begoro while someone (Brennan or Lethbridge) said that if he were King of Akim he would chase the Christians out of his country too. Meanwhile the Hausas steal things from the Christians, usually when the former are in service, and the English officers will not consider any charges against the Hausas unless supported by witnesses. It seems the chief of Abomosu has been judged liable to pay £40 damages for what happened to the chapel in Asunafo but laughs when anyone asks him to pay this sum. Rösler knows nothing about the negotiations with the Kibi chiefs except what the heathen tell him, though the latest information (again not officially communicated to him) is that though Lethbridge had thought his duties were over, he has been instructed to remain in Akim until the end of the obsequy customs, and the choice of a new Okyenhene (the Government appears to have believed that there was a link between these events), following which the Christians would be re-introduced. The Governor appears to have given the Kibi chiefs 6 weeks to complete this, but Rösler feels sure that they will try to get another 40 day delay. They hear that the Government has got the Kibi people to work on the repair of the Mission House and Chapel, though they are not making the best job of it (he hears) and also they want in the Christians to settle somewhere else eventually. They are interested in the choice of Okyenhene – then being two candidates, one a weakly gifted brother of Ata, the other a 16 year old matrilineal nephew. The bulk of the chiefs favour the latter: the former would really mean a ‘regiment of women', including especially the Queen Mother and Ata's well-known sister Okyerera. In fact there is a sprinkling of Christians returning to the outstations, and indeed in the places nearest Begoro the local agents are back at work in Kukurantumi, Tafo, Fankyeneko, Anyinam, Kwabeng Tumfa Asiakwa, Asafo.

30.06.1887

30.06.1887

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